Wednesday, December 3, 2014

CHEVROLET COLORADO IS BACK BETTER EVER

General Motors has returned to the midsize pickup segment for the new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and its stablemate, the 2015 GMC Canyon. Although the automaker initially dropped both trucks after the 2012 model year, they're back and better than ever, redign totally new styling, new interiors, new powertrains and a overhaul improved driving  trucks experience's.

The result is that these two trucks run circles around the Toyota Tacoma and Frontier toyota ,their biggest competitors. But we're also interested to see whether truck shoppers will forego larger pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series, given the impressive capabilities  and lower price tags  of GM's new Colorado and Canyon.


The Colorado is completely new for the 2015 model year.Excellent interior for a midsize truck; great engine performance; lots of features; better ride than other midsize trucks

Ride still isn't perfect; front seat comfort not great for long drives; priced too similarly to the Silver.
The Colorado offers two engines. In base models, there's a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 191 lb-ft of torque. Two transmissions are offered: a 6-speed manual, available only with rear-wheel drive, that gets 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, or a 6-speed automatic offered in rear- or 4-wheel drive guise. Automatic Colorado models return 20 mpg city/26 mpg hwy in rear-wheel drive, or 19 mpg city/25 mpg hwy with 4-wheel drive.

If you're looking for more power, the Colorado also offers a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. That engine returns 18 mpg city/26 mpg hwy with rear-wheel drive, or 17 mpg city/24 mpg hwy with 4-wheel drive.

The Colorado is offered in four trim levels: a base model called simply Colorado, a slightly more upscale WT (Work Truck) model, a mid-level LT and an off-road-oriented Z71.

The base-level Colorado ($21,100), which is only offered with rear-wheel drive, a 6-speed manual transmission and no rear seats,Customize your driving experience by arranging the icons and features on the available Chevrolet MyLink† 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen. Choose the information or options you use most and place them on your home screen. The interface allows you to touch and swipe on the screen just like you do on your smartphone. There’s even a USB† to charge your phone or other electronic devices while storing them.

Step up to the Colorado WT $22,500 and you'll add rear seats along with several new options: a 3.6-liter V6, an available 6-speed automatic transmission and available 4-wheel drive.

Next in line is the Colorado LT ($26,100), which features a standard automatic transmission, GM's 4G Wi-Fi hot spot, 17-inch alloy wheels,Colorado is the first small truck to combine design features such as inlaid, triple-sealed doors, thick windshield and side glass, and liquid-applied sound deadener to help reduce wind noise inside the cab and keep the road noise out. So you’ll be able to crank up the music on the available Bose® sound system while Colorado turns down the world outside,a leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering wheel audio controls.
The all-new 2015 Colorado small truck offers a Z71 Off-Road Package with precisely tuned suspension that provides an incredibly stable and comfortable ride for off-road performance. The truck’s skid plate helps protect crucial underbody components like the transfer case when navigating rough terrain. The Z71 package also includes an automatic locking rear differential, which sends power to one of the rear wheels when the other one loses traction to help you stay in control when pulling your boat out of the water or when you're getting dirty off-road.


Options include the pickup's 3.6-liter V6 engine along with high-tech safety features such as a lane departure warning system and a forward collision alert.
All 2015 Chevrolet Colorado models come standard with dual front airbags and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants. The Colorado also includes a standard backup camera and traction control. Options include forward collision alert and a lane departure warning system. As of this writing, the Colorado had not yet been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).


The Colorado is simply a major step up over all of its small pickup competitors. One reason is the truck's ride, which is much smoother than what you'll find in other pickups. The interior is also nicer. The Colorado and Canyon also oast more gadgets and features than the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. To us, the Colorado and the Canyon look more modern on the outside, too.

While the base-level Colorado's 4-cylinder isn't a major workhorse, it's certainly acceptable for many situations, and it gets strong fuel economy for a pickup truck. But we're especially impressed with the pickup's V6, which is the powerplant we recommend. It boasts excellent acceleration and a surprisingly brawny 7,000-lb towing capacity, along with a smooth standard automatic transmission.

We have only two complaints with the Colorado: Its ride, while great for a small pickup, could still be a little better. And we're not sold on the front seats, which could use a little extra support.

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